MUMBAI : A sensational dawn raid by the police has sent shockwaves across the state’s law enforcement landscape. In a high-profile operation, a massive raid uncovered mountains of cash, weapons found at Don Baba Farzan’s home in Maharashtra. The extensive search targeted the luxurious bungalow of Baba Farzan, the infamous Don who once instilled intense fear across Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar during the 1990s.
The dramatic crackdown took place in the quiet Mitmita locality. Surprisingly, the coordinated raid occurred just a few weeks after the notorious don’t death due to prolonged diabetes. Acting on precise intelligence tips, joint teams from the city Crime Branch and the Cantonment police surrounded the massive property. Consequently, investigators stumbled upon a literal treasure trove of illegal wealth and dangerous weaponry hidden inside the locked wardrobes of the mansion.
Huge Cash Pile and Hidden Valuables Seized in Mitmita
According to senior officials, Farzan’s second wife, Sheela Ganpatrao Salve (52)—also known as Shilabai Baba Fardun Dordi—was present at the house when the Crime Branch officials arrived. The sheer volume of recovered valuables completely stunned the raiding party. During the search, officials found a total of ₹5,26,29,560 unaccounted cash. The massive cash hoard included a dense mix of ₹100 and ₹200 notes. Additionally, a large quantity of small bundles of ₹50, ₹20, and ₹10 notes filled the bags.
| Seized Item Category | Discovered Quantity & Metrics | Estimated Net Value (INR) |
| Unaccounted Currency | Mix of ₹10, ₹20, ₹50, ₹100, & ₹200 notes | ₹5,26,29,560 |
| Gold Jewelry | 151.3 Grams of high-purity gold | ₹21,34,350 |
| Silver Assets | 3.9 Kilograms of silver ornaments & seals | ₹8,09,248 |
| Foreign Liquor | 45 Premium branded bottles | ₹34,836 |
Police Commissioner Statement: “This massive operation belongs to our ongoing systemic crackdown on organized crime syndicates. We will thoroughly investigate the source of every single rupee, asset, and weapon recovered from this property.”
Due to the overwhelming pile of money, the officials had to bring in five currency counting machines to determine the exact amount accurately. Moreover, the team spent hours systematically sorting the cash bundles. Alongside the money, the local squad documented gold jewelry worth ₹21,34,350 and silver worth ₹8,09,248. Furthermore, they confiscated 45 liquor bottles from various foreign and renowned companies valued at ₹34,836, which violated regional prohibition laws.
Deadly Cache of Unlawful Weapons and Cartridges Unearthed
The sheer scale of weaponry found inside the residential bungalow raised immediate national security concerns. The officials found a large number of weapons in the house worth ₹5,50,000. These deadly items included two pistols with four functional magazines, four heavy rifles, 12-bore rifles, two air guns, and a .22 rifle. Furthermore, the lethal pile contained one traditional sword, three daggers, 17 kinds of knives, and 21 other sharp weapons.
Total Live Cartridges Seized: 6,350 Bullets
- 12-Bore Ammunition: 632 rounds
- 7.65mm Pistol Ammunition: 1,878 rounds
- 0.22mm Rifle Ammunition: 3,840 rounds
Initial investigation revealed that the licenses for the 12-bore and 0.22mm rifles, a pistol, and a revolver were originally registered in the name of Baba Farzan. However, the police did not find any valid license or documents for the second pistol recovered. Under Indian law, weapon licenses expire upon the death of the owner, and families must surrender firearms immediately. Because she retained these lethal firearms without valid authorization, the Cantonment police officially arrested Sheela Ganpatrao Salve. A local court quickly remanded her to four days of strict police custody.
Uncovering Secret Links to Historical Underside Cases
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Shashikant Satav stated that the investigation is expanding rapidly. Officials believe that the financial documents, bank accounts, and documents related to benami properties recovered from Farzan’s house could uncover links to several unsolved criminal cases dating back to the 1990s. The Income Tax department has also been formally briefed to track the illegal money trail.
The discovery of over 6,350 live bullets has forced intelligence teams to intervene. Investigators are trying to understand why a retired union leader kept such a terrifying stockpile of ammunition. The state crime branch is now scrutinizing older property registers, extortion files, and bank lockers across the Marathwada region to find hidden accomplices.
Legacy of Terror: Who Was Don Baba Farzan?
To understand the weight of this raid, one must look at the history of the local underworld. In the 1990s, Don Baba Farzan established a strong influence and terror in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and its surrounding areas. His name was involved in the settlement of many major disputes, extortions, and land disputes in the city at that time.
Originally from the Rohila Gali area in the city, Farzan once served as the labor union president in the 1980s and 1990s. He masterfully used his union leadership position to build a massive criminal empire. Over his lifetime, he was accused of four serious criminal offenses, including rioting, assault, attempted murder, and kidnapping.
Over the past few years, Farzan’s active influence on the criminal network had diminished significantly due to illness and advancing age. He suffered from severe diabetes, which limited his public movements. He died about six months ago due to a prolonged illness, following which the police launched the major operation at premises linked to him. The sheer volume of mountains of cash, weapons found at Don Baba Farzan’s home in Maharashtra proves that while the don passed away, his illegal empire remained fully functional.